Munchkin Milestone or Mommy Meltdown?

BOTH!

So my little boy is going to go on his first trip without his mommy. Tomorrow we are driving up to Coeur d'Alene to meet with my mom and make the big switch. Kai is going to go stay with Nana and Papa in Whitefish for a whole 7 days! Now I am sure that Kai is going to be just fine. They are going to spoil him crazy. He gets to go rafting and Papa is going to buy him a sleeping bag. Nana has already picked up enough snacks to feed a village and a G.I. Joe for the 4 hour drive to Whitefish. She bought him a life jacket and clothes galore. Play dates have been set up with bunches of kids including going to his cousin McLean's house where he gets to play in the bouncy house and indoor playground shaped like a castle. (oh yeah that boy is S.P.O.I.L.E.D. but such a good kid! I don't know how they do it.) Needless to say Kai is never going to want to come home.

Me on the other hand.... Well lets just say that when we left him with Brandon's mom to go to McCall for 4 days, by the night of day two I was starting to go a little batty. By the morning of day three I was in full on withdrawal. I am a stay at home mom. And other than the occasional overnighter at his grandma's house I am with him 7 days a week 365 days a year. He is a mama's boy to the core and I love it! Lets face it he won't be this way forever. Before you know it he is going to want to be with daddy all the time. I will be replaced with football games in the yard and baseball at the park. I have accepted this and cherish every moment I get with him now.

Keeping in step with my last minute pack-itis and a little bit of reluctance and denial, I'm still not done getting him ready. Ok ok I'm not even close. Every time I try to pack up his things I end up cuddling with him on the couch instead. I'm hopelessly in love with my little munchkin and I don't want to let him go! Don't get me wrong I am looking forward to this trip. Brandon and I desperately need some husband/wife time. We don't get it very often. I am always in MOM mode. But the idea of not getting to tuck him in and hear him say, "I wuv you mama." is killing me. We have already decided that there will be no phone contact unless absolutely necessary. We don't want him to get confused or upset. He is only 3 so the concept of 342 miles between him and his mama will be lost.


Now comes the mushy part....




Despite all my separation anxiety I am so happy that Kai gets to spend some quality time with my mom. Even writing this I am getting teary. My mom is the most wonderful woman in the world. She is my best friend and confidant. She raised me to be strong and smart, and independent. She has taught me so much. We can spend hours on the phone one day and turn around and do it again the next. Without her I would be nothing. It would take a lifetime of praises to truly explain how much she means to me. I know Kai is in great hands.





And then there is Rick. Knowing that my mom has finally found her soul mate (no offense DAD) is the best feeling in the world. Rick aka Papa aka Peepa is amazing. His whole family is amazing. They have accepted us and taken us into their family without question. Rick's parents Darlene and Ray don't look at Kai and see their son's girlfriend's grandson. They see their great-grandson. There are no words for how great these people are. Rick gets so excited when Kai is around. All he can talk about is how he is going to teach him how to pee off the deck, and take him fishing. If you ask Kai what does Peepa say he gets a big grin on his face and yells Yaaa Hooo! Peepa yells this so loudly and randomly that mom and I both about jump out of our seats every time. Kai on the other hand thinks it is hilarious.

And don't get me started on my mom's boss Ade (short for Adeline I think...). This woman is so generous and kind that it makes my heart swell. Her grandson Tarrin is a big ball of cuteness. And when I say big I mean BIG! He is only two and is already as tall as Kai and beefy. But back to Ade. Whenever we are it town she insists that we come over. Last time she took us to lunch and proceeded to feed Kai most of her food including a humongous piece of coconut cream pie. When we are in town and she buys something for Tarrin she buys one for Kai too. I kid you not there is something magical about this town. Everyone is so kind and giving. No one thinks twice about adding you to their family. It is just automatic. If Brandon's company had a branch in Montana I would move to Whitefish in a heart beat! The two short years I lived there changed me forever. When I am there I feel like I am home.

It is because of all of these amazing people that I can put my mommy anxiety aside and send Kai off on his first big adventure with confidence and pride. He will be more loved and cared for than any other child on the planet. We are truly blessed to have such a big family.